"The Job" is no longer a secure go to.

[Etranger]

Layoffs have become a major problem in the job market. The increasing spread of technology and the application of this technology in the job market are one of the main reasons for layoffs. Where previously a company used to need 200 employees, with the spread of technology, it is possible to run the company very well with just 100 workers. So why would a company keep an extra worker on salary? That is why companies are laying off workers and these workers are getting lost in the middle of their lives and are expressing disappointment in themselves as to how they will lead their next life. That is why jobs can never provide security to people nowadays, but people are also disappointed in how they can prepare themselves.

In my view, that is not entirely true, because many jobs still cannot be replaced by AI. That is, in theory it is possible, but in practice they do not risk doing it because AI bears no responsibility for its suggestions and decisions. And therefore, there is always a need for those who will at least simply verify the AI's decisions and take responsibility for the result. Because there must be people who are held accountable in case of failures.

[slapper]

When you meet somebody new, they're going to want to know what you do. In fact, that's often the first question they ask. It comes before where you're from or what your interests are. That's why being laid off sucks so much. The lost paycheck is only part of it. You also lose the answer to that question. And for a lot of us, that answer was pretty much who we were.

It's not just one country either. The promised lifetime employment in Japan was a reality after World War 2. The 90s crash slowly dissolved that promise. China reformed it's state companies in the late 90s, and that led to massive layoffs. Korea went through the same thing after 1997. The culture of employment may be different, but the lesson in each is the same. Employment can be promised, but only as long as the numbers support it.

So I mostly agree with you, OP. But one thing bugs me. "Build skills that stay valuable when you're disposable" is market-smart advice, and I'm on board with it. Still, it measures your worth by how useful you are to a market. We just switched from being loyal to a company to being loyal to the job market. Maybe that's a better deal. But it's the same way of thinking.

Epictetus was once a slave, owned by another man. He's famous for saying that we should separate the things we can control from the things we can't. Your company's plans arent up to you. How you treat people and spend your free time is. So try developing an identity that isn't based on your job title. Make friends, discover hobbies, find causes you care about. All of these things will stick around, even if you lose your paycheck.

[Unknown Op]

These I.T. jobs have always had a certain amount of churn and I'm not sure that's anything new. These jobs get added incrementally, sometimes associated with particular projects like Facebook meta, in an attempt to conquer a new market but then they get re-assessed at a later stage and shelved. It's actually good business to be constantly evaluating and reallocating capital, there are lots of non-IT companies that do it and you'll find the most ruthless are actually the pioneering companies with plenty of profits they can use to expand into new fields which creates jobs instead. Then there are just obsolete jobs, much like the buggy whip manufacturers who went extinct when the automobile took over the personal vehicle market. We must all adapt and reimagine our skill sets when it is required, or get displaced by others who are willing to do that.

I don't think that treating constant job losses as a normal part of business makes any difference between laying off worker and replacing obsolete jobs because of failed and unmanaged business that has made the wrong decisions. Employee need appreciation they put year and year of effort into their skill and they deserve consideration instead of just being treated as disposable resources. Also just because the market changes not everyone can easily retain or can easily switch their careers. To learn new skills, need money and opportunities and it also takes a lot of time that is not equally available for everyone. Companies get benefits from loyalty of their employees and also from their experience so they should help them in changing environments rather than just taking them as a burden. With the passage of the time as the technology is changing the job market is also changing but that does not mean the job losses is an avoidable or beneficial.

[Jerrycrypto2024]

Layoffs have become a major problem in the job market. The increasing spread of technology and the application of this technology in the job market are one of the main reasons for layoffs. Where previously a company used to need 200 employees, with the spread of technology, it is possible to run the company very well with just 100 workers. So why would a company keep an extra worker on salary? That is why companies are laying off workers and these workers are getting lost in the middle of their lives and are expressing disappointment in themselves as to how they will lead their next life. That is why jobs can never provide security to people nowadays, but people are also disappointed in how they can prepare themselves.

In my view, that is not entirely true, because many jobs still cannot be replaced by AI. That is, in theory it is possible, but in practice they do not risk doing it because AI bears no responsibility for its suggestions and decisions. And therefore, there is always a need for those who will at least simply verify the AI's decisions and take responsibility for the result. Because there must be people who are held accountable in case of failures.

@ Etranger, I need not doubt your point, I realized one thing about technology while is displacing some person in their job, it also create job in another personality who desire to take advantage, really factual that many decisions that AI can't handle no matter it's advanced, Le t me site some VAR in football most decision despite been detected by AI are resolved by human final decision, it reduce the quantity of employees but can't eliminate employee in the industry, those that take advantage of learning either to take certain decision as well assist the AI can still be valid in the industry where their service is need such person can't still boost of security but depending much on job security is risky.

[liuka]

In my view, that is not entirely true, because many jobs still cannot be replaced by AI. That is, in theory it is possible, but in practice they do not risk doing it because AI bears no responsibility for its suggestions and decisions. And therefore, there is always a need for those who will at least simply verify the AI's decisions and take responsibility for the result. Because there must be people who are held accountable in case of failures.

Yes, Technological advancements are becoming increasingly sophisticated. However, AI is man made, and every task still requires human intervention.

In developed countries, many companies may lay off employees because some areas can be handled by AI,but not all. Therefore, Companies still need Human employees to run their businesses.
In less developed countries, All jobs are still done by humans, So AI hasn't yet fully taken over the world. Therefore, we can take advantage of today Technological advancements to make money more easily than in previous years.

[Etranger]

Therefore, we can take advantage of today Technological advancements to make money more easily than in previous years.

I'm always very suspicious of claims that you can make money the easy way. In my experience, that has never happened, and in general I tend to think there's no such thing as a free lunch. It's true that AI helps streamline some work, but streamlining creates a need for a whole lot of other tasks. So the person who used AI to streamline their old workflows simply has to switch over and take on the new work, because processes never stand still.

[goldkingcoiner]

Witnessing huge layoffs from employment giants like PayPal, Dell and Uber, something is definitely has definitely change in the job space that's not talked of as  much.

For a long time now, getting into a good company brought about the feeling of finding a home. You work hard, stay loyal, climb the ladder, And then expect the company to reward such a loyalty with stability. Well, in today's reality, that is no longer the case.

Companies often have targets, shareholders obligations to fulfill, competition, and operating costs to all to navigate. If the numbers no longer make sense then drastic actions need to be undertake.

Personally I don't think it's about the company being evil, but more about incentives. A company can value an employee but still decide that keeping that employee doesn't make economic sense.

A very uncomfortable lesson.

Surely there should be a goal shift,candy how careers should be seen. A shift from finding a company that can keep you for 20-30 years, to building skills, relationship and financial independence that can remain valuable when one becomes disposable.

Thinking a job is secure is a delusion in the first place, no matter whether modern day or in the far far past.

Does anyone truly think their boss cares about the financial wealth of their workers? No, of course not. He cares about profit and growing the company. The employees are just tools that he uses to achieve that goal.

Sure, there are really kind and good bosses in this world but nobody has ever become rich from caring about their employees.

And even if they did, why put all your eggs in one basket? A single source of income is too risky. If it disappears, what then?

[Etranger]

Thinking a job is secure is a delusion in the first place, no matter whether modern day or in the far far past.

Does anyone truly think their boss cares about the financial wealth of their workers? No, of course not. He cares about profit and growing the company. The employees are just tools that he uses to achieve that goal.

Sure, there are really kind and good bosses in this world but nobody has ever become rich from caring about their employees.

And even if they did, why put all your eggs in one basket? A single source of income is too risky. If it disappears, what then?

Yes, everyone looks out for themselves first. Business owners think about their profits, while employees think about their stability. But I wouldn't say one side clearly wins and the other loses. If that were the case, we wouldn't see so many examples of this kind of symbiosis. For some people it makes sense to be employees, just as for others it makes sense to be entrepreneurs, and neither can do without the other. As for your own well-being, you always have to take care of it yourself, because no one else will do it for you.

[Anayochukwu]

Y'all have to understand that these employers doesn't care about our feelings, financial security or skills and especially in these modern era that anyone can be replaced easily by AI. Even as an employee you need to have a backup plan now just in case you get replaced so you have something else to fall back to, AI is a machine and as expected of a machine it works more and saves resources and humans can't compare to these machines or compete with them, I know someone that has been replaced with AI at work and I don't know if I should be worried about AI taking up our jobs or if I should be understanding that these companies are also affected by the economy and replacing a human with AI is saving cost and time.

[Berry2d]

Y'all have to understand that these employers doesn't care about our feelings, financial security or skills and especially in these modern era that anyone can be replaced easily by AI. Even as an employee you need to have a backup plan now just in case you get replaced so you have something else to fall back to, AI is a machine and as expected of a machine it works more and saves resources and humans can't compare to these machines or compete with them, I know someone that has been replaced with AI at work and I don't know if I should be worried about AI taking up our jobs or if I should be understanding that these companies are also affected by the economy and replacing a human with AI is saving cost and time.

The replacement of skills in modern civilisation is  normal but not in all field of study so it should not be taken to heart or consider AI as a threat, originally it is very difficult surviving without an alternative source of income because of the inflation and other economic challenges threatening or knocking on daily basis.
Its obvious many see AI as a threat to our jobs but we need to come back to reality and see AI the way it is supposed to be Seen. The AI i know is established to help provide solutions to our challenges and not serve as a threat to us because of its importance.

[Androma]

Earlier, people thought that a good job meant ensuring life security. We would run our family with the salary at the end of the month. We don't have to worry about the future. But now times have changed. The reality of work life has changed. Once upon a time, a good company meant that it was guaranteed for the rest of our lives. Companies now look after their own accounts. We should also look after our own accounts now. Instead of entrusting our future to the job, prepare ourselves in such a way that even if we lose our job, our life does not stop. We should see the job as a platform rather than an address. From here, it is wise to create your own backup with your own experience and contacts. Now, instead of being loyal to the company, you need to be loyal to your own growth.

[Thewatchman]

Surely there should be a goal shift,candy how careers should be seen. A shift from finding a company that can keep you for 20-30 years, to building skills, relationship and financial independence that can remain valuable when one becomes disposable.

There is no security of tenure now in this era of new technologies; we have AI, and now automation, and the worst job creation in the workforce is subcontracting.

Companies and organizations just hire agencies to do and finish a job for them, so they don't have an obligation to give you insurance, perks, and other forms of rewards to employees. The best thing that a person can do is to level up his skill so he can set up his own business or not be out of a job, and makes him indispensable

If you still have the belief that a job is your secured go to if you don’t have and create other source of income for yourself. Many people are of the opinion you have to work for someone or an institution for more that 15 years your are going to get a comfortable salary but that is limited because of the inflation and high cost of living in the country.

You cannot duel on the negative but make good adjustments by creating a separate source of income so not to consume your savings on need and also wants, having a single job is no longer secure to go because of the complexity of bills that arise as a result of the current economic situation and therefore there need to be for support from the people by creating other sources of income for oneself.

[greysonz]

These days, large companies don't give a damn about their employees. They introduce AI into their workspace and immediately see how much they can cut while maintaining the same productivity at the same costs. And the big bosses don't even care where the fired employee goes afterward.
After all, they might have a family or government loan obligations.
Of course, I'm not defending those who are truly ineffective at work, because it's hard to assume that everyone is passionate about their work and does it perfectly. I've known many incompetent people who spent their time chatting with other colleagues in the hallways instead of working. In general, the topic of monitoring employee productivity with AI surveillance terrifies me.

[Decimetre]

Thinking a job is secure is a delusion in the first place, no matter whether modern day or in the far far past.

Does anyone truly think their boss cares about the financial wealth of their workers? No, of course not. He cares about profit and growing the company. The employees are just tools that he uses to achieve that goal.

Sure, there are really kind and good bosses in this world but nobody has ever become rich from caring about their employees.

And even if they did, why put all your eggs in one basket? A single source of income is too risky. If it disappears, what then?

Yes, everyone looks out for themselves first. Business owners think about their profits, while employees think about their stability. But I wouldn't say one side clearly wins and the other loses. If that were the case, we wouldn't see so many examples of this kind of symbiosis. For some people it makes sense to be employees, just as for others it makes sense to be entrepreneurs, and neither can do without the other. As for your own well-being, you always have to take care of it yourself, because no one else will do it for you.

There's always that competition between the employers and employees which is perhaps, healthy in itself since it aims at ensuring there's no short-changing of any kind. Most times, the entrepreneurs or employers tend to win at the end because either you get sacked or resign out of disappointment from the little token you receive.

When you consider that you may also get sacked or run out of contract at anytime, what matters then is how much you make out of the job. This is why a person is always supposed to be on the lookout for a greener pasture or a lasting job or better still become an entrepreneur and learn more skills.

Just like you said, no one will help you take care of yourself unless you do, so it's better to do what would benefit you as long as you have a plan for your next move

[MorganaX]

The reality is that a job is not a truly reliable source of security; it is merely a means of earning a livelihood. Employment ties you to a specific location and offers limited income, which can also take a toll on your mental well-being. Therefore, one should pursue a business alongside a job. If you succeed in that business—or if the income from it matches what you earn from your job—it would be better to leave the job and focus entirely on the business. No one has ever been able to fully realize their personal passions while working a standard job; you can only fulfill those aspirations when you are involved in a business of your own. Moreover, employment is precarious—you could lose your job at any moment. If you start a business now, it could potentially become a source of income that surpasses your salary within a year.

I admire that fact that you pointed out that the job and business can be correlated, you can do both for safety and security but watching you say jobs limits you to certain makes me think you have a myopic thinking of jobs, no all jobs keeps one in a cubicle, I am privileged to work in an organization that takes me to alot of places and frankly speaking it gets tiring, I just want to be at home.

[Etranger]

It might be an emotional outburst that strays a bit from the main topic, but I genuinely don't understand why it's so hard to find a job right now. And it pisses me off so much that there are so many scammers specifically in this field. I mean, come on, a person just wants to work. They don't want to steal, cheat, or slack off. They simply want access to the work and opportunities that the country they happened to be born in and get citizenship from doesn't provide or actively blocks. And now, the fact of this "wrong" birthplace becomes an obstacle in the eyes of many employers to having decent opportunities. Why is it like this?

I spend just as much time searching for work as I do actually doing the work. I'm constantly juggling two or three jobs, not even counting side gigs, simply because my current residency keeps me from getting hired by the companies I'd actually love to join. And that’s despite the fact that they could easily pay me less than the lucky holders of EU or US passports. It's such a wild, overwhelming injustice, I can't even put it into words. So it's not just that having a job is no guarantee of secure go to, but actually getting one in the first place is vastly harder for some than it is for others.

[WatChe]

These days, large companies don't give a damn about their employees. They introduce AI into their workspace and immediately see how much they can cut while maintaining the same productivity at the same costs. And the big bosses don't even care where the fired employee goes afterward.
After all, they might have a family or government loan obligations.
Of course, I'm not defending those who are truly ineffective at work, because it's hard to assume that everyone is passionate about their work and does it perfectly. I've known many incompetent people who spent their time chatting with other colleagues in the hallways instead of working. In general, the topic of monitoring employee productivity with AI surveillance terrifies me.

Companies behaviour was always like that, they always care about their own interest first. Employees future was never a primary concern in corporate culture. To survive in corporate environment its important to understand this concept and that too in your early days.

There is famous saying by Dr Abdul Kalam "Love your job but don't love your company, because you may not know when your company stops loving you!". We have seen practical implementation of this saying many times, when companies start firing there old employees during the time of financial crisis without caring how these employees will survive. AI no doubt is the biggest fear for employees these days and as an employee we must learn AI skills to secure our future.       

[oll]

These days, large companies don't give a damn about their employees. They introduce AI into their workspace and immediately see how much they can cut while maintaining the same productivity at the same costs. And the big bosses don't even care where the fired employee goes afterward.
After all, they might have a family or government loan obligations.
Of course, I'm not defending those who are truly ineffective at work, because it's hard to assume that everyone is passionate about their work and does it perfectly. I've known many incompetent people who spent their time chatting with other colleagues in the hallways instead of working. In general, the topic of monitoring employee productivity with AI surveillance terrifies me.

But I often see articles about IT employees who are deeply demoralized by their inability to write their own code. Meanwhile, their employer forces them to create code using AI and then check it. And don't expect AI to write flawless, efficient code; it makes a lot of mistakes. And this is precisely what drives IT employees crazy. And I understand their frustration, because they're forced to spend their weekdays at a job they now hate doing completely different things than they expected. But times are changing, and there's nothing you can do about it.

[qurbanshah02]

Still people like it and use it to do their household chores, which is according to their small thinking. If you think about spending your life with luxury and peace, then you will do something outside your job, which may be enough to fulfill your dream. You should have enough money so that all your dreams can be fulfilled because whenever a person works hard in the world, his purpose is to think about his dreams and when he goes towards success, he gradually completes his dreams. My dream was to build my own good house, but I could not fulfill it, but I am trying to decorate it well so that I am successful, even if it is a little less. Your job supported you only as long as this company is making profit, if the company closes today, you will have no importance.

[SUPERSAIAN]

There are also stable jobs people should gravitate toward those. If someone secures the right position before being laid off, they might not be significantly affected. To me, the idea of ​​being loyally devoted to a specific workplace or employer seems pointles it acts as a barrier to one's personal development. I don’t find this to be an unsettling lesson after all, companies must maintain their profitability, and employees should live with the awareness of this reality.